21 Oct 2013

Cancer group wants total ban on commercial sunbeds

11:51 am on 21 October 2013

The Melanoma Foundation says New Zealand should follow a move by the Queensland government to put a total ban on commercial sunbeds.

Other Australian states are working on similar bans, following research which linked tanning beds to a higher risk of skin cancer.

Despite New Zealand's having the highest incidence of melanoma in the world, there are no official rules on the beds, just a voluntary standard for operators.

Chief executive of the Melanoma Foundation, Linda Flay, says regulations are being developed and that's a start on minimising the harm caused by the sunbeds.

"We are very conscious that our neighbours across the Tasman are, state-by- state getting a complete ban. So ultimately, that's probably what we'd like to see in New Zealand as well."